Rollable toy



Nov. 2, 1954 A. E. CAVANAGH 2,693,051

ROLLABLE TOY Filed Sept. 6, 1951 W INVENTOR.

AQ/Zw E cza /mew ite This invention relates to a rollable toy for children.

An object of the invention is to provide a rollable toy consisting of a train of rollable members which is attractive and amusing to children by reason of uneven rolling movement of the rollable members with the movement of the toy over a supporting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy of said character which is connected together by eccentrically pivoted links to provide relative movement of the rollable members toward and away from each other when the toy is moved over a supporting surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a toy consisting of a plurality of rollable members linked to gether to form a train which permits of superimposing one or more of the rearmost rollable members on the forward rollable members whereby a peculiar up and down or jumping motion is imparted to the superimposed rollable members with the movement of the train over a supporting surface.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rollable toy constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation with the rollable members rotated through 180 from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation showing one manner of using the toy.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the toy consists of a plurality of rollable members 10 which are of cylindrical formation having oppositely disposed parallel end faces 11 and 12 and a peripheral or circumferential face 13 for rolling engagement with a supporting surface. Adjacent rollable members 10 are connected together in parallel spaced relation by means of links 14 which are pivoted to the end faces 11 and 12 of adjacent rollable members on pivot pins 15 in olfcenter or eccentric relation to the longitudinal central axes of the rollable members. By this construction the rollable members are linked together in an elongated train for free turning or rolling movement on a supporting surface- In order to move the rollable members over a supporting surface, a yoke 17 is provided which consists of op positely disposed links 18 pivotally connected to the foremost rollable member on the pivot pins 15 and at their forward ends, the said links 18 are connected together by a cross pin 19 which protrudes through a tubular member 20 to which a pull cord 21 is aifixed having a knob 22 at the end thereof.

States Patent 2,693,051 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 It will be understood that the pivotal connections of the links with the rollable members will rotate therewith respectively whereby the rollable members will move toward and away from each other with the rolling movement of the toy over a supporting surface. As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, two of the intermediate rollable members are relatively close together while the remaining three rollable members are spaced farther apart due to the position of the pivotal connections of the links therewith. When the toy is moved over a supporting surface to turn the rollable members through the position of the rollable members will be as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this position the two forwardly disposed rollable members and the three rearmost rollable members are disposed in relatively close relation while the second and third rollable members are spaced a greater distance apart. This relative spacing of the rollable members will vary with the movement of the rollable members over the supporting surface.

This movement of the rollable members towards and away from each other as the toy is moved over a supporting surface provides a toy which is attractive and amusing to children. In addition thereto, the links 14 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are arranged in a zigzag line which constantly changes in formation with the movement of the toy. As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings the rearmost rollable member 10 may be superimposed on one of the intermediate rollable members so as to provide a peculiar movement of the links 14 connecting the several rollable members at the rear of the toy when the toy is pulled over a supporting surface.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy, a series of cylindrical members arranged with adjacent members disposed in paraIIeI spaced relation and with their ends in alignment on each side, a series of link members pivotally connected in end to end relation at each side to the ends of the cylindrical members in eccentric relation to the longitudinal central axes thereof to provide a train of cylindrical members, adjacent link members on each side being pivotally connected with the intermediate cylindrical members on common pivots respectively, a yoke pivotally connected to the foremost cylindrical member, and means connected with the yoke for moving the train of cylindrical members over a supporting surface.

2. In a toy, a series of cylindrical members arranged with adjacent members disposed in parallel spaced relation and with their ends in alignment on each side, a series of link members pivotally connected in end to end relation at each side to the ends of the cylindrical members in eccentric relation to the longitudinal central axes thereof to provide a train of cylindrical members, adjacent link members on each side being pivotally connected with the intermediate cylindrical members on common pivots respectively and said link members being of a length to permit of complete rotation of adjacent cylindrical members about their pivotal connections, a yoke pivotally connected to the foremost cylindrical member, and means connected with the yoke for moving he train of cylindrical members over a supporting surace.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 495,273 Schwabe Apr. 11, 1893 1,342,945 Dorsk June 8, 1920 1,566,495 Mallard Dec. 22, 1925 

